Begonia plant named ‘Bbbon’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘Bbbon’, characterized by its compact, upright and mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; double flowers that are deep pink in color and held above the foliage; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Begonia×hiemalis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Bbbon’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant, botanically known as Begonia×hiemalis, commercially known as Elatior Begonia, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Bbbon’.

The new Begonia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new freely branching Begonia cultivars with fully double flowers.

The new Begonia originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in April, 2000 of a proprietary selection of Begonia×hiemalis identified as code number 99-541, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Begonia×hiemalis identified as code number 2000/1618, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Begonia was discovered and selected by the Inventor from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands in June, 2002.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia by cuttings in a controlled environment in Aalsmeer, the Netherlands, has shown that the unique features of this new Begonia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Bbbon has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Bbbon’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Bbbon’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Double flowers that are deep pink in color and held above the         foliage.     -   4. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the parent selections in flower form as plants of the parent selections have single flowers. In addition, plants of the new Begonia have darker pink-colored flowers than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Begonia can also be compared to plants of the cultivar Bbpicotee, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,291. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands, plants of the new Begonia differed from plants of the cultivar Bbpicotee in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia were more freely branching than         plants of the cultivar Bbpicotee.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Begonia had more tepals than         flowers of plants of the cultivar Bbpicotee.     -   3. Plants of the new Begonia had darker pink-colored flowers         than plants of the cultivar Bbpicotee.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Begonia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Begonia. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Bbbon’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring and summer in Aaslmeer, The Netherlands in 13-cm containers and, under commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 20° C., night temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 20° C. and light levels averaged 18,000 lux. Plants used for the photograph and the description were about three months from planting.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia×hiemalis cultivar Bbbon. -   Commercial classification: Elatior Begonia. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Begonia×hiemalis identified as code number 99-541, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Begonia×hiemalis identified as code number 2000/1618, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About four weeks at             temperatures 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; plants of the new Begonia             have not been observed to form tubers.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form.—Compact, upright and mounded plant habit,             inverted triangle; freely branching with good stem and stem             base strength. Flowers are double and abundant. Moderate             growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 20 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 20 cm to 25 cm.         -   Basal branch description.—Quantity: Freely basal branching             with about five to six basal branches developing per plant.             Length: About 9 cm to 13 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm to 3 cm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144B.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Simple, alternate. Length:             About 8 cm to 9 cm. Width: About 5 cm to 6 cm. Shape:             Palmately lobed. Apex: Acute. Base: Cordate. Margin: Doubly             serrate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; velvety. Venation pattern: Palmate. Color:             Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface: 136B;             venation, 136B. Developing and fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: 139A; venation, close to 136B. Petiole length:             About 4 cm to 6 cm. Petiole diameter: About 4 mm. Petiole             texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Petiole             color, upper and lower surfaces: 136B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Double flowers with numerous tepals             arranged in axillary cymes. Usually five to six flowers per             cyme. Many cymes in flower simultaneously. Flowers             positioned upright and outwardly above the foliage. Flowers             not fragrant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants will flower continuously             year round in the greenhouse, however plants flower earlier             and more abundantly during the summer in The Netherlands.             Good postproduction longevity, flowers last about one month             on the plant. Flowers persistent.         -   Cyme height.—About 4 cm to 5 cm.         -   Cyme diameter.—About 6 cm to 7 cm.         -   Flowers.—Shape: Rounded to oval; rose-like. Diameter: About             4 cm to 5 cm. Depth (height): About 1 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm. Diameter: About             2 cm. Color: Close to 144B.         -   Tepals.—Arrangement: Rosette. Quantity per flower: Usually             about 10 to 15 per flower. Length: About 2 cm to 3 cm.             Width: About 3 cm to 4 cm. Shape: Obovate to rounded. Apex:             Rounded, obtuse. Margin, outer tepals: Entire. Margin, inner             tepals: Slightly serrate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Color: When opening, upper and             lower surfaces: 55A to 55B. Fully opened, upper and lower             surfaces: 55A to 55B.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity/arrangement: Two, opposite. Shape:             Broadly ovate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Glabrous, smooth. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 144B overlain with close to 183A.         -   Peduncles.—Angle: Erect to about 45° from vertical. Length:             About 4 cm to 5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm to 4 mm. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144B.         -   Pedicels.—Angle: About 30° to 45° from the peduncle. Length:             About 2 cm to 3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: None observed. Pistils: None             observed.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to     Begonia has not been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed     to tolerate temperatures from about 10° C. to about 35° C. 

1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘Bbbon’ as illustrated and described. 